Money container setting circuit in an automatic money dispenser

ABSTRACT

A money container setting circuit in an automatic money dispenser operated to dispense money of a plurality of monetary denominations, which circuit comprises: a section storing the denominations of money to be dispensed and producing signals for storing the denominations of the money; a section commanding the start of money dispensation and producing a signal for starting the dispensation of money; and a container-position detecting section producing coincidence signals when a money container is coincidentially set at money-dispensing positions thereof, whereby the money container is controlled by these signals.

United States Patent 11 1 Shigemori et al.

[ Aug. 12, 1975 [54] MONEY CONTAINER SETTING CIRCUIT IN 3,028,580 4/1962 Durant 194/15 X AN AUTOMATIC MONEY DISPENSER 3,072,237 l/l963 Simjian l94/DIG. 9 3,I23,O82 3/1964 Call 133/1 R Inventors: Hideto ig m Akio Ueba; 3,527,238 9/1970 Stamp 133/4 R Hisashi Kitagami, all of I-Iimeji, 3,675,816 7/1972 Bourke 194/DIG. 9 japan 3,682,183 8/1972 Morrow l33/l R [73] Assignee: Glory Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha,

japan Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerThomas E. Kocovsky [22] Ffled: July 1974 Attorney, Agent, or FirmHolman & Stern [2]] Appl. No.: 485,433

Related US. Application Data 57 ABSTRACT [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 299,402, Oct. 20,

1972 abandonei .A money contamer setting c1rcu1t in an automatic money dispenser operated to dispense money of a plu- [30] Foreign Ap lication Priorit Dat rality of monetary denominations, which circuit com- Oct. 20, 1971 Japan 46-82424 prises: a Secnon Storing the denominations of money to be dispensed and producing signals for storing the 52 US. Cl. 221/10; 133/4 A; l94/DIG. 9; denominatims of W money; a scan)" cqmmanding 221,121 the start of money dispensatlon and producmg a signal 51 Int. Cl. G07d 1/00 for fn the dispensatm of money; and Contain [58] Field of Search 94/DIG 9; 133/1, 2, 4; er-positlon detecting section producing coincidence 221/9, 10 120, 121, 122 signals when a money container is coincidentially set at money-dispensing positions thereof, whereby the [56] References Cited money container is controlled by these signals.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 3,002,602 10/1961 Giepen 221/122 X STORAGE SECTION DRIVE CONTROL SECTION (GATES Gl-G7, Gin-G30) (MEMORY SIGNAL DRIVE COMMAND SIGNAL FLIP-FLOPS FF1-FF3 D|SPENSER DEIDMINATION DETECTING CONTROL a l iica m o E r e iiiiiie SECTION SECTION JMONEY CONTAINER DRIVING SECTION/DRIVING MEANS w MONEY DISPENSING SECTION PATENTED AUG 1 21975 SHEET muE TE waoJuTnz i zOCbmm JOmFzOo mmwzmmwa P MENTEI] IIIII; I 2 I915 SHEET 2 MONEY 7 AMOUNT INPUT 8 MANUAL g' i 3' MEANS COMMAND N L 'L 5. L SECTION 7 ING SECTION I- 1 2 l I III Tl c SF fi EOTIo R'F J DENOMINATION I MONEY COMMAND AMOUNT i gg-n FF2 EOT2E RE I DISPENSATION -l l- SENTE W FF3 (EOTl-3) EOT3L E A I-| .I

OENOMINATION R o SIGNAL 1 I STORAGE j 24* SECTION STORAGE /COUNT MONEY CIRCUIT SECTION 9 CONTAINER v MONEY CONTAINER FRAME If l I /-|O MONEY DISPENSING I Fla 2 SECTION I TO FIG. 2A

PATENTED AUG 1 2 I975 SHEET MONEY CONTAINER SETTING CIRCUIT IN AN AUTOMATIC MONEY DISPENSER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 299,402, filed Oct. 20, 1972 now abancloned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to automatic money dispensers and more particularly to a circuit for setting a container section containing money (hereinafter referred to as a money-container setting circuit) in the automatic money dispenser.

Known in the art as an automatic money dispenser comprising a money container having a plurality of frames each containing money of one denomination only, for instance a first frame containing 10,000-yen bank notes only, a second frame containing 1,000-yen bank notes only, and so forth. In this conventional money dispenser, when a particular monetary denomination is designated by means of a function key, the position of the money-containing frame corresponding to the monetary denomination thus designated is set at a money-dispensing position predetermined in relation with a money-dispensing section, and thereafter the money of the denomination designated by the function key is dispensed through a money-dispensing outlet by the operation of the money-dispensing section.

However, conventional automatic money dispensers such as described above suffer from the disadvantage having an undesirable or incorrect denomination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first object of the invention is to provide a moneycontainer setting circuit of an automatic money dispenser which eliminates the disadvantages accompanying conventional automatic money dispensers during the setting operation of its money container.

A second object of the invention is to provide a money-container setting circuit in an automatic money dispenser which can set a money container correctly with respect to each monetary denomination specified, whereby the reliability of the automatic money dispenser is much improved.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a money-container setting circuit in an automatic dispenser which includes a circuit for designating the order of money dispensations and a manual command section adapted to selectively command the monetary denominations by a manual operation, whereby the operation of setting the money container may be carried out either automatically or manually.

The foregoing object and other objects as well as the characteristic features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description with respect to a preferred embodiment of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a schematic block diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of an automatic money dispensing system including the money-container setting circuit according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 2a are a detailed partial schematic, partial block diagram of the system of FIG. 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present inveniion; and FIG. 3 is a diode matrix assembly which forms the Order Designation Section of FIG. 2a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. I, there is shown an overall partial block, parti l schematic diagram illustrative of the money-container setting circuit of the present invention in an automatic money dispensing system. The money-container setting circuit includes a dispenser control section 8, a storage section 1, a drive control section 4, driving means 5, and a container-position detecting section 3. The foregoing elements are interconnected within a money dispensing system which includes a money container 9 which, for example, comprises a drum containing separate compartments for housing the individual money denominations, and a money dispensing section 10 which receives money from the adjacent compartment of money container 9. By way of illustration, money containter 9 is shown in FIG. 1 to include three compartments or frames which respectively house lOO-yen notes, 1,000-yen notes, and 10,000-yen notes. Accordingly, if money container 9 is in the position as depicted in FIG. 1, the container housing the 10,000-yen notes is adjacent the money dispensing section 10 from which the 10,000-yen notes will issue. In order to obtain other denominations from money dispensing section 10, money container 9 must be rotated so that the proper compartment or frame rests adjacent the money dispensing section 10.

The container position detecting section 3 is coupled to money container 9 so as to provide an indication to drive control section 4 as to which of the various'compartments or frames within money container 9 are adjacent the money dispensing section 10, as will become more clear hereinafter.

The initial information regarding the total amount of money to be dispsensed and in what denominations is provided by means of dispenser control section 8. Dispenser control section 8 provides signals to storage section 1 indicative of the denominations of money desired to be output from money dispensing section 10. Storage section 1 preferably comprises a plurality of flip-flops corresponding in number to the number of different denominations of money available to be dispensed from money container 9 and money dispensing section 10. Storage section 1 provides an output signal to drive control section 4 to indicate that a particular money denomination is desired to be output from money dispensing section 10. If that particular denomination fails to correspond to the compartment or frame within money container 9 which is then adjacent money dispensing section 10 as detected by container position detecting section 3, drive control section 4 activates driving means 5 to bring the proper compartment or frame within money container 9 into alignment with money dispensing section 10. Once the desired alignment between the compartment or frame of money container 9 with money dispensing section 10 is achieved, drive control section 4 ceases actuation of driving means 5. The money dispensing section 10 is then actuated to dispense the desired number of bills of that denomination. The number of bills dispensed of that denomination is monitored by dispenser control section 8 and, upon detecting that the desired number of bills of that particular denomination have been dispensed by money dispensing section 10, dispenser control section 8 provides a reset signal to the corresponding flip-flop within storage section 1.

Thereafter and automatically, the storage section 1 in combination with the drive control section 4 proceeds to distribute the desired number of bills of the next lower denomination. This process is repeated until the total amount originally indicated by dispenser control section 8 has been delivered through money dispensing section 10. In the foregoing manner, automatic distribution of the proper number of bills of each denomination is achieved. Dispenser control section 8 also includes a manual command section, to be explained in more detail hereinafter, which bypasses storage section 1 to provide a direct indication of the desired denomination to drive control section 4.

Referring now to FlG. 2, there is illustrated a detailed schematic diagram of the money dispensing system embodying the present invention. The dispenser control section 8 is seen to comprise a money-amount input means 20, a function key 22 which includes a plurality of keys corresponding to the different denominations of money to be distributed, a storage/count circuit section 24, a manual command section 7, and a dispensation-start commanding section 2.

The instruction input, i.e., the data regarding the desired monetary denominations and money therefor, are delivered by means of the money-amount input means and the function key 22. One money amount is designated by money-amount input means 20 for one denomination selected by function key 22. For example, 20,000 yen may be designated by money-amount input means 20 and the l0,000-yen key of function key 22 may be designated for the dispensation of 10,000-yen notes. If the 20,000 yen designated by money-amount input means 20 is desired in 1,000-yen notes, the 1,000-yen key of function key 22 is designated. This data regarding the monetary denominations and the money amounts therefor are delivered from moneyamount input means 20 and function key 22 to a storage/count circuit section 24, which comprises a storage circuit for storing the data on the money amount designated to be dispensed, and on count circuit which counts the number of pieces of money dispensed from the money dispensing section 10 by means of a photoelectric type money detector provided in the money conveying path of the money dispensing section 10 and which when a money amount represented by the number in pieces of money dispensed coincides with the money amount represented by the data stored in the storage circuit, detects it. When the desired number of bills of a particular denomination dispensed from money dispensing section 10 corresponds with that amount previously stored in storage/count circuit section 24, the latter delivers a resetting signal to the remainder of the circuitry, as will become more clear hereinafter.

The outputs of the function key 22 of dispenser control section 8 which are indicative of the desired denominations of bills to be dispensed are fed to storage section 1. Storage section 1 comprises flip-flops FF,, FF and FF;,. The outputs from storage section 1 are fed to drive control section 4 which includes gates G,, G and 6;, whose outputs are respectively fed to flipflops FF FF and FF The drive control section 4 further comprises gates G G G3, G G G G and an order designating section 6.

The operation of gates G G G and 6., through (3, are controlled with the aid of three control signals A, B and C, that is, a signal A for storing a monetary denomination, a signal B for starting the dispensation of money and a signal C for detecting the coincidence of a money-containing frame of the money container 9 with the desired money-dispensing position (hereinafter referred to as a monetary-denomination storing signal A, a dispensation-starting signal B and a coincidence-detecting signal C, respectively).

The monetary-denomination storing signal A is produced initially from storage section 1 which stores the denominations of money designated to be dispensed from the money dispenser 9, the dispensation starting signal B is produced from a section 2 for commanding the start of the money dispensation, and the coincidence-detecting signal C is produced from the container-position detecting section 3 which detects the coincidence of the position of the money-containing frame of money-container 9 corresponding to the monetary denomination designated with the desired moneydispensing position. Furthermore, the money-container setting circuit of the present invention is provided with a money-container driving section 5 which is controlled by an output from the drive control section 4.

Within drive control section 4, output flip-flops FF FF and FF are provided correspondingly to the flipflops F F FF and FF,,, respectively; and AND gates G,, G and G are also in correspondence with the flipflops FF,, FF and FF;,, respectively. The outputs F of the flip-flops FF,, FF: and FF are applied through the gates (3,, G and G to the flip-flops FF,,,, FF and FF respectively. The outputs F of the flip-flops FF,, FF and FE, are introduced to a circuit 6 for designating the order of money dispensations (hereinafter referred to as an order-designating circuit 6) which for example may comprise a diode matrix. This diode matrix is formed with diodes in the form of a matrix so that when a signal at a low level is ob tained at the terminal F of the flipflop FF,, this signal F is introduced to the other terminals of the AND gates G and G and w hen a signal at a low level is ob tained at the terminal F of the flipflop FF this signal F is introduced to the other terminal of the AND gates G whereby the operations of the AND gates G and G and that of the AND gate G are inhibited by these signals F respectively.

Order-designating circuit 6 provides enabling inputs to gates G,, G and G in the following predetermined manner. When the flip-flop FF, is set, an output signal of a high level is produced from the flip-flop FF, and order-designating section 6 thereby to open the gate 6,; when the flip-flop FF, is reset while the flip flop FF, is set, an output signal of a high level is produced from the flip-flop FF and order-designating section 6 thereby to open the gate G and when both of the flipflops FF and FF are reset while the flip-flop FF is set, an output signal of a high level is produced from the flip-flop FF;, and order-designating section 6 thereby to open the gate G When the gates 6,, G and G are thus opened, the outputs F of the flip-flops FF,, FF and FF are introduced through the gates 0,, G and G to the flip-flops FF,,,, FF and FF respectively, As a result, the flipflops FF,,,, FF and FF;,, are set, and the monetarydenomination storing signals A are produced therefrom.

The container-position detecting section 3 comprises switches SW SW and SW which are provided separately for each monetary denomination. In each of the switches, when the position of the money-containing frame with which the switch is associated in moneycontainer 9 reaches or coincides with the desired money-dispensing position in correlation with the movement of the money container 9, the switch is closed thereby to produce the coincidence-detecting signal C of a high level.

The dispensation-start commanding section 2 comprises a push-button SX for starting the dispensation of money. When this push-button SX is depressed, the dispensation-starting signal B is produced from the dispensation-start commanding section 2.

The money-container driving section 5 includes a control relay RY and a switching transistor T connected to the relay RY. The relay RY controls a turret motor 26 which revolves the money container 9. When the switching transistor T becomes conductive, the relay RY is energized thereby to revolve the money container 9.

In drive control section 4, AND gates G G and G are provided in correspondence with the monetary denominations and AND gate G is provided to receive an enabling signal from push-button SX. The gates G G and G receive the respective output signals A corresponding to the monetary denominations originating from the storage section 1 and also the respective output signals C from the container-position detecting section 3 to thereby produce output signals. These outputs are fed through wired OR gate G to the gate G When the gate G receives the output signal B from the dispensation-start commanding section 2 upon depression of the push-button SX, the output of the gate G is introduced through an OR gate G to the switching transistor T whereby this transistor T becomes conductive.

The money-container setting circuit further comprises a manual command section 7. In this section 7, monetary denominations of 10,000, 1,000 and 100 may be selected by a manual operation to override the automatic operation of money-amount input means 20, function key 22, and order-designating section 6. As a result, command signals which will set the flip-flops FF FF and FF respectively, are produced, while a control signal is produced to open an AND gate 6,, whose one input receives the output of the gate 7.

The setting terminals S of the flip-flops FF FF and F1 in the storage section 1 are respectively connected to input terminals T T and T which respectively receive signals which designate the monetary denominations 10,000, 1,000 and 100 which signals are produced by function key 22. The resetting terminals R of the flip-flops FF FF and FF are connected to input terminals EOT,, EOT and EOT respectively, which receive respective resetting signals produced by storage/count circuit section 24 when the moneydispensing section 10 completes the dispensations of the money of the various denominations, as aforedescribed. For instance, when the money-dispensing section 10 completes the dispensation of the proper number of 10,000-yen bills, a resetting signal is produced by section 24 and introduced through the input terminal EOT to the input terminal R of the flip-flop FF,.

In addition, the storage section 1 is provided with an input terminal R which receives a resetting signal for resetting the number of whole flip-flops FF FF F1 FF,,,, FF and FF The terminal R may be connected to a clear command section provided separately which is manually operated to reset forcibly the flipflops FF F1 FF FF F1 and F1 or to an initial reset circuit which is provided to prevent an erroneous operation which may be caused upon energization, and which upon energization automatically operates to produce a reset signal.

The operation of the money-container setting circuit of the present invention will be described with respect to the case where, for instance, 21,300-yen is dispensed with two sheets of 10,000-yen bank notes, one sheet of a 1,000-yen bank note, and three sheets of l00-yan bank notes out of the money dispenser 10.

First of all, the signals for designating the monetary denominations 10,000, 1,000 and are produced by means of the function key 22. The total amount of money to be dispensed for each denomination is designated by money-amount input means 20 whose output is stored in storage/count circuit section 24 (along with the function key 22 information) to provide a means for determining when the proper number of bills for each denomination has issued from money dispensing section 110. The outputs from function key 22 are also fed to the flip-flops FF FF and FE, which then are set, whereby the gate G is opened with the aid of the order-designating circuit 6 and the flip-flop FF is set through the gate G thus opened (while the flipflops FF and FF are maintained set). Therefore, an output of a high level from the flip-flop FF, is fed to the gate G Under this condition, if the position of the frame of money-container 9 which contains the 10,000-yen bank notes is not in coincidence with the moneydispensing position dictated by money dispensing section 10, the switch SW is kept open and an output of a high level is therefore applied from a power source Vcc tp the gate G as a result of which an output of a high level is delivered from the gate G to the gate G Under these conditions, upon depression of the pushbutton SX of the dispensation-start commanding section 2, the gate (3,, is opened, and the output of the high level from the gate 6 is fed through the gate G to the transistor so as to make the latter conductive, as a result turret motor 26 is activated and the money container 9 starts its revolution.

When the position of the 10,000-yen containing frame coincides with the money-dispensing position by the revolution of the money container 9, the switch SW is closed, whereby a detecting signal of a low level is applied to the gate G As a result, the gate G is closed and the transistor T is therefore turned off or non-conductive, so that the revolution of the money container 9 will cease. In this case, the output of the gate G which has changed to the low level from the high level as described above, is utilized, as a brake driving signal E so as to activate a brake provided for the money container 9.

When the 10,000-yen containing frame is thus set at the proper money-dispensing position and two sheets of 10,000-yen bank notes are dispensed one by one out of the money dispenser, the latter is detected by storage/- count circuit section 24 which generates a resetting signal representing the completion of the dispensation of 10,000-yen bank notes and is applied to the input terminal EOT, As a result, the flip-flops FF, and FF are reset, while a control signal is produced from the orderdesignating circuit 6 to open the gate G whereby the flip-flop FF is set. At the same time, the output of the gate G is changed from the low level to the high level, resultantly the transistor T is turned conductive so that the money container 9 starts its revolution again.

Upon start of the revolution of the money container 9, the switch SW is operated in the same manner as in the case of the switch SW described above, and the frame containing the 1,000-yen bank notes is set at the money-dispensing position by the revolution of the money container 9. When the proper number of 1,000- yen bank notes has been dispensed, as detected and stored in circuit 24, the latter provides a reset signal to terminal BOT- Then, similarly as in the cases described above, the dispensation of the lOO-yen bank notes is carried out automatically until the full and proper amount has been dispensed.

The situation in which money of various monetary denomination is automatically dispensed out of the money dispenser 9 has been described above. However, if the money is desired to be dispensed manually with no predesignated order or total, the monetary denominations may be successively commanded by the manual command section 7. In this case, every time the manual command section commands a particular monetary denomination, the components corresponding to or related to the monetary denomination thus commanded are operated in the same manner as described above and the frame containing the money of the denomination thus commanded is set at the moneydispensing position.

As is apparent from the above-description, according to the present invention, the money-containing frames of the money container can be sequentially and correctly set at the money-dispensing position according to the monetary denominations, whereby the reliability of the money dispenser can be improved remarkably in its money-dispensing operation.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the order-designating circuit 6 and the manual command section 7 are provided in the money-container setting circuit, whereby the operation for setting the money container may be carried out either automatically or manually.

The money-containing frames described above are radially arranged. However, it should be noted that the invention could be applied to a money container in which the money-containing frames are arranged vertical or horizontal.

We claim as our invention 1. A money container setting system in an automatic money dispenser having a dispenser control section to control the dispensation of money, said system comprising:

a money container having a plurality of money containing frames each containing money of a particular monetary denomination;

driving means for setting each one of said money containing frames containing money of a predetermined monetary denomination to be dispensed at a money dispensing position of said automatic money dispenser;

a money dispensing section for dispensing money out of each one of said money containing frames when set at said money dispensing position;

storage means for storing the monetary denominations of money designated to be dispensed and providing respective denomination storing signals representative thereof;

monetary denomination detecting means operatively responsive to said denomination storing signals for detecting the denomination of money contained in each one of said money containing frames when set at said money dispensing position; and

drive control means for applying a driving command signal to said driving means until the denomination of money to be dispensed, which is selected in a predetermined order of priority determined by the denominations stored in said storage means, is detected by said monetary denomination detecting means in response to respective ones of said denomination storage signals, whereby money to be dispensed is successively selected and set at said money dispensing position.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which said storage means comprises a storage circuit device having a plurality of storage circuits in which monetary denominations of money to be dispensed are respectively stored separately according to monetary denomination, and when a sum of money dispensed by said money dispensing section has reached a predetermined amount, dispensation completion signals are generated in the dispenser control section of said money dispenser in response thereto and applied to reset said storage circuits thereby to eliminate the contents stored therein.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises an order-designating circuit constituted in a matrix state, said order-designating circuit receiving input signals from said storage means respectively representative of the denominations of money stored therein and selecting said denominations one at a time in an order of priority predetermined by the combination of said denominations of money.

4. A system as claimed in claim 2, which further comprises an order-designating circuit constituted in a matrix state, said order-designating circuit receiving input signals from respective ones of said storage circuits representative of the monetary denominations stored therein and selecting said denominations one at a time in an order of priority predetermined by the combination of said denominations of money. 

1. A money container setting system in an automatic money dispenser having a dispenser control section to control the dispensation of money, said system comprising: a money container having a plurality of money containing frames each containing money of a particular monetary denomination; driving means for setting each one of said money containing frames containing money of a predetermined monetary denomination to be dispensed at a money dispensing position of said automatic money dispenser; a money dispensing section for dispensing money out of each one of said money containing frames when set at said money dispensing position; storage means for storing the monetary denominations of money designated to be dispensed and providing respective denomination storing signals representative thereof; monetary denomination detecting means operatively responsive to said denomination storing signals for detecting the denomination of money contained in each one of said money containing frames when set at said money dispensing position; and drive control means for applying a driving command signal to said driving means until the denomination of money to be dispensed, which is selected in a predetermined order of priority determined by the denominations stored in said storage means, is detected by said monetary denomination detecting means in response to respective ones of said denomination storage signals, whereby money to be dispensed is successively selected and set at said money dispensing position.
 2. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which said storage means comprises a storage circuit device having a plurality of storage circuits in which monetary denominations of money to be dispensed are respectively stored separately according to monetary denomination, and when a sum of money dispensed by said money dispensing section has reached a predetermined amount, dispensation completion signals are generated in the dispenser control section of said money dispenser in response thereto and applied to reset said storage circuits thereby to eliminate the contents stored therein.
 3. A system as claimed in Claim 1, which further comprises an order-designating circuit constituted in a matrix state, said order-designating circuit receiving input signals from said storage means respectively representative of the denominations of money stored therein and selecting said denominations one at a time in an order of priority predetermined by the combination of said denominations of money.
 4. A system as claimed in claim 2, which further comprises an order-designating circuit constituted in a matrix state, said order-designating circuit receiving input signals from respective ones of said storage circuits representative of the monetary denominations stored therein and selecting said denominations one at a time in an order of priority predetermined by the combination of said denominations of money. 